Pretty Food!

I made a green smoothie today.  Into the blender I put the following:

• 1 can coconut milk
• 1/2 bag spinach
• 1/2 small bag frozen cubed mango
• 3 apples
• 1/2 cup green tea

Here's what it looked like when I started to blend it:

Here's what it looked like while it was blending:

Here's what we do with it when it's done.  Well, OK, we actually put the salsa jar lids on and store them in the fridge ...

I used a spatula to get the last of the smoothie out of the blender jar, and I let DH lick the spatula.  He declared it good enough to eat, and told me that it was a Pretty Color!

Usually DH doesn't like to eat it, and only because it's green.  For example the other half bag of spinach was used in an "apple pie" smoothie a few days ago, and he refused to eat it.

Here are the ingredients for the Apple Pie Smoothie I made last week.  I usually use coconut milk, but wanted to use up the last can of coconut water:

• 1 tall can coconut water
• 3 capsules psyllium fiber (it was still quite liquid)
• 3 small apples
• 1/2 bag spinach
• 1/2 small bag frozen strawberries
• 2 teaspoons (if not more) apple pie spice

Have you ever made a fruit smoothie or a green smoothie?

Paleo "Hot Toddy" and Special Offer

Yep, we've "gone paleo."  DH shed 15 lbs in about a month.  I'm not doing quite as well on that front, but that's not what this post is about.

Entirely.

We found this recipe for Creamy Turmeric Tea on one of our favorite Paleo web sites (click here).  Tonight's batch blends coconut milk and almond milk, coconut oil and butter - plus, of course, turmeric.  It does not taste a bit like tea, but it's a nice, warm drink that we make occasionally in the evening.  Instead of sweet, it's savory and buttery.  Here are the obligatory pictures.

SPECIAL OFFER:
If you've read this far, I might as well tell you that I buy Nutiva coconut oil at iherb (click here).  This high-quality coconut oil smells good and we have many uses for it.  I will blog more about it later, but if you click here, you can get $5.00 (USD) off your first order from iherb.

Note from the next day:  Silly me -- I forgot to add a little bit of honey to the drink, but it still tasted good!

Picadillo - Again!

Picadillo is a latin variation on hash or chili.  Click here for the wiki explanation.  I have written about Picadillo before (click here), but I was a vegetarian at the time.  Here is my most recent version of Picadillo, almost as easy as a dump cake.

Since we've gone Paleo, we no longer add beans to this dish.  We also try to use more fresh tomatoes instead of canned products.

Start with half a coffee cup of raisins, covered with booze or warm water.  If you're in a big hurry, cook in microwave at 50% power for 30 seconds.  Set this aside.

Chop a small onion, place in large skillet with one pound ground beef, and sautee until meat is almost cooked and onions are clear.  Drain off extra fat, then place this mixture in a large sauce pot.

Cut a large tomato (or equivalent) into cubes, then add to sauce pot.

Open one can each of diced tomatoes and tomato paste, and add to sauce pot.

Add one small can of black olives, one cup of pitted green olives (sliced or chopped), and one can of black beans (rinsed).

Not shown is the mess of spices added at this time.  Lots of cinnamon and some allspice, clove, garlic, nutmeg, cumin, and oregano, or whatever you have.  Also add the raisins and their "special juice."

Heat through and simmer on low heat for about an hour.  We serve it with a dollop of sour cream on top (although I like to stir it in) and a piece of buttered, sprouted grain bread on the side.

Enjoy!